KASA Inaugurates KVN Pyeongchang With First VLBI In South Korea

JAKARTA South Korea established its newest radio observatory network on June 12, 2025. This astronomical observation site is located at the Pyeongchang campus of Seoul National University.

Inaugurated by the South Korean Space Agency (KASA), this observatory is the country's first Very Long Radio Versus Space (KVN) network with a very long baseline radio interferometer (VLBI).

In addition to being built as the first VLBI, this KVN Pyeongchang is equipped with a network receiver as well as the world's first multifrequency space signal observer. This technology is believed to support more efficient observations.

KVN Pyeongchang will operate with three other radio networks located in Seoul, Ulsan, and Jeju. The four observatories will be developed into one network to observe supermassive black holes and other astronomical objects.

KASA explained that KVN managed by South Korea has the best resolution with the ability to see celestial objects in detail. This observatory also has high sensitivity because it is able to detect faint signals significantly.

In addition to being built to observe space, KVN Pyeongchang was also built to encourage talent in the field of science. Built as part of Seoul's National University, KASA hopes students can make good use of the observatory.

"We will not waste support so that our young talents can pursue their dreams as much as possible and face great challenges in expanding the limits of human knowledge," said KASA Administrator Yoon Young-bin.